The vast majority of Danish Jews escaped to Sweden. The several hundred who did not were rounded up by the Nazis and sent to Theresienstadt.

But most of their lives were spared, too, as the result of Danish intervention.

99% of Danish Jews survived the war.

On fishing vessels, skiffs, and rowboats, they made their way across the Baltic Sea straits from Denmark to Sweden, where the Swedish king & officials had agreed to offer them asylum.

In remarkable acts of courage, ordinary Danes, church leaders, and Jews themselves organized a rapid exodus. Jews left their homes in Copenhagen, hid in the homes of Danes across the countryside, in churches, and in forests, and made their way to the seacoast.

The faculty and students of the University of Copenhagen suspended classes for a week in protest of the Nazi plan to deport Danish Jews (and to help organize their secret escape).

The bishop of the Lutheran Church of Copenhagen, H. Fuglsang-Damgaard, wrote to Nazi authorities that the church would fight to assist the Jewish population and “preserve the same freedom which we ourselves value more highly than life itself.”

Just before Rosh Hashanah in 1943, Danish officials learned that the Gestapo was planning to round up the more than 7,000 Danish Jews for transport to Nazi death camps.

Danish officials, church leaders, and Jewish leaders moved quickly.

I spent last week in Denmark, learning what NYC can do better on infrastructure & climate.

Their Jewish Museum tells the story of the escape of Danish Jews — a powerful reminder that courage, resistance & solidarity are possible even in the darkest times.
forward.com/opinion/566698…

On Yom HaShoah, Jews reflect on the horrors of the Holocaust. It’s heavier than usual, w/many of us feeling fearful & divided in the wake of Hamas’ attack on 10/7, resurgent antisemitism & the devastation of Israel’s assault in Gaza.

I found insights in a place I did not expect.

An “aide” aka a lawyer who was hoping that Chell might care that — while his menacing & anti-democratic tweet may well have had the support of the Mayor — it also likely violated the City’s Conflict of Interest law.

Led by Brad Lander, the group of 39 electeds includes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. & dozens of Council members & state legislators.

Their letter doesn't specify what discipline they want Chell to face, but Tiffany Cabán suggested: 'He should be fired today.' nydailynews.com/2024/05/03/nyc…

NEW: More than three dozen local elected officials are calling on Mayor Adams to discipline NYPD Chief John Chell over “illegal” and “dangerous” social media attacks the police honcho has leveled against lawmakers, journalists and others in recent months. nydailynews.com/2024/05/03/nyc…

One day longer, one day stronger!

This is now the longest legal services strike in New York City in over 30 years. ✊

I'm proud to keep standing with UAW MFJ Union On Strike workers fighting for a fair contract.